A gaming apparatus has several primary gaming devices. Each of the primary gaming devices is configured to accept a wager and to generate a bonus qualifying event. A central display device is mounted in association with the primary gaming devices. The central display device has several flexible belt displays having indicia thereon. A controller is in communication with the gaming devices and the central display device. The controller is configured to detect the bonus qualifying event and to position the flexible belt displays such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the flexible belt displays convey a game outcome. A gaming method using the gaming apparatus is also disclosed.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) a plurality of gaming devices, each of the gaming devices being configured to accept a wager and to generate a bonus qualifying event; (B) at least one central display device mounted in association with the gaming devices, the central display device comprising a plurality of flexible belt displays having a plurality of indicia thereon, wherein each flexible belt display is aligned with a gaming device, wherein there is a gap between each flexible belt display, the central display device comprising a plurality of false rollers positioned in the gap between adjacent flexible displays, wherein the false rollers obscure the gaps; and (C) a controller in communication with gaming devices and the central display device, the controller being configured to detect the bonus qualifying event and to position the flexible belt displays such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the flexible belt displays convey a game outcome.
2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible belt displays are moved such that they appear to be continuous.
3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible belt displays provide the illusion of a single belt extending around the central display device.
4. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicia indicating the game outcome is indicated by illuminating at least a portion of the flexible belt display.
5. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible belt displays rotate about a vertical axis.
6. A method of gaming, not necessarily in the order shown comprising: (A) allowing a plurality of players to play games on a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device positioned around a central display device comprising a plurality of flexible belt displays, wherein each flexible belt display is aligned with a gaming device, wherein there is a gap between each flexible belt display, the central display device comprising a plurality of false rollers positioned adjacent to the gap between adjacent flexible displays, wherein the gap is at least partially obscured; (B) determining if a bonus qualifying event has occurred on at least one of the gaming devices; (C) if the bonus qualifying event has occurred, moving a plurality of flexible belt displays and rotating one or more of the false rollers; (D) stopping the flexible belt displays; and (E) indicating at least one indicia on at least one of the flexible belt displays as a game outcome.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising causing the plurality of flexible belt displays appear to be comprise a continuous flexible belt.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising causing the plurality of flexible belt displays to appear to comprise a single belt.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the flexible belts are moved about a vertical axis.
10. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) a plurality of gaming devices; (B) at least one central display device mounted in association with the gaming devices, the central display device comprising a plurality of flexible belt displays having a plurality of indicia thereon, wherein each flexible belt display is aligned with a gaming device, wherein there is a gap between each flexible belt display, the central display device comprising a plurality of false rollers positioned in the gap between adjacent flexible; (C) a controller in communication with gaming devices and the central display device, the controller being configured to: (a) accept wagers from the gaming devices; (b) play a primary game on the gaming devices; (c) detect the occurrence of a bonus qualifying event; (d) if the bonus qualifying event has occurred, move the flexible belt displays; (e) stop the flexible belt displays; and (f) indicate at least one of the indicia as a bonus game outcome.
11. The gaming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a positioning mechanism is coupled to the flexible belt displays and is in communication with the controller.
12. The gaming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the flexible belt displays is modular such that the flexible belt display can be slid in and out of the central display device.
13. The gaming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the flexible belt displays appear to be continuous.
14. The gaming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the flexible belt display has a first end and a second end, the first end being wound on a first reel and the second end being wound on a second reel.
15. The gaming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a first actuator is coupled to the first reel and a second actuator is coupled to the second reel.
16. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) primary gaming device means for allowing a plurality of players to play a plurality of primary games; (B) bonus gaming device means for allowing at least one of the players to play a bonus game, the bonus gaming device means including a plurality of flexible belt display means having a plurality of indicia displayed thereon and a plurality of false roller means configured to hide a transition between adjacent flexible belt display means; and (C) controller means for controlling the operation of the primary gaming device means and the bonus gaming device means, the controller means in communication with the primary gaming device means and the bonus gaming device means, the controller means being operable to determine a game outcome to indicate at least one of the indicia on at least one of the flexible belt displays as the game outcome.
17. The gaming apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of flexible belt displays are moved such that they appear to be continuous.
18. The gaming apparatus of claim 16 wherein the flexible belt display means provide an illusion that they comprise a single belt.
19. The gaming apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the flexible belt displays move about a vertical axis.
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January 25, 2008
November 1, 2011
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